A second Sydney food delivery driver has died in a month, prompting “life or death” calls for urgent reform to the transport industry.
The UberEats driver, believed to be aged in his 20s, died in Campbelltown about 6pm on Saturday in a collision with a ute.
The driver of the ute – a 30-year-old man – was taken to Campbelltown hospital for mandatory testing, while the motorcyclist died at the scene.
He was the 13th worker known to have died in Australia in the transport gig worker industry since 2017. Another food deliver driver, Akshay Deepak Doultani, was killed just three weeks ago, also in Sydney.
Official numbers are believed to underestimate how many drivers have been killed in connection with food delivery work.
A spokesperson for UberEats said it was a “tragic incident”. The company was “reaching out to the family and loved ones” to offer support, and was working with NSW police on their investigation, they said.
“Any fatality on Australian roads is a tragedy, and it is devastating that road accidents have taken the lives of two young men delivering on the Uber Eats platform this year. Road safety is a major focus for our business and we will continue to work with delivery people, governments and other stakeholders on ways to improve safety for everyone delivering on Australian roads.
“In Australia, Uber Eats delivery people are covered by a support package designed specifically for them, which includes insurance should an accident or injury occur while delivering.”
The Transport Workers’ Union of Australia (TWU) said the death was “horrific” and called on the federal government to pass urgent reform to make the industry safer.
The government is considering legislation that would set minimum pay and conditions for gig workers and give the Fair Work Commission the remit to regulate “employee-like workers”.
Business groups and gig economy companies have opposed the changes, arguing they will increase costs and prices for consumers and lead to job losses.
The national secretary of the TWU, Michael Kaine, said food delivery riders needed to be guaranteed safe working conditions and for “deadly pressures” to be eased.
“The food delivery rider community is in mourning once again,” he said.
“Just three weeks after the tragic loss of Akshay Deepak Doultani, another food delivery rider has died at work. Our thoughts are with the rider’s loved ones at this terrible time.”
Doultani, 22, was studying a master’s degree in finance at Macquarie University, after receiving a scholarship allowing him to come to Australia. He died while riding for Uber Eats on 22 July after a collision with an SUV in Epping.
Kaine said food delivery riders had “no rights” such as a safe and fair minimum wage, sick leave, protection against unfair contract terminations, and workers’ compensation in the event of accidents.
“Life-saving reform to set fair, safe and sustainable standards in transport, including for gig workers, will soon be before federal parliament. This is literally life or death urgency – we call on every parliamentarian to pass this reform into law without delay.”
In the past year the TWU has signed charters with DoorDash, Uber and Menulog calling for reform to set standards in transport.
A McKell survey in April of more than 1,000 transport gig workers found roughly half earned less than the minimum wage, and 56% felt pressured to rush in order to make enough money and avoid losing their jobs.
A crime scene was established to be forensically examined by specialist police. A report will be prepared for the coroner.
